Temple Beth Shalom

Temple Beth Shalom was organized as an outgrowth of the Jewish Community Center of Okaloosa County during the summer of 1985. The following November, Temple Beth Shalom was granted a charter as a member congregation by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), now the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the organization supports many Reform Je... wish congregations in North America. Since then, our membership has steadily grown year after year. In 1987, a section of the Fort Walton Beach Memorial Cemetery was designated for the use of the Jewish community. During a special ceremony, it was dedicated and consecrated as holy ground. During the interval between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a yearly Kever Avot Memorial Service is held here. With the continued growth of the congregation, we added our educational wing in 1988, almost doubling the size of the Temple. During Hanukkah of 1998, we dedicated a major expansion that doubled the size of the educational wing, enhanced the sanctuary and library, expanded the kitchen, added a Rabbi's study and a childrens quiet room. The purpose of the congregation is threefold. First, it strives to promote the enduring and fundamental principles of Judaism and ensure the continuity of the Jewish people. Furthermore, it enables its adherents to develop a relationship with G-d through communal worship, study and assembly. Finally, it strives to apply the principles of Reform Judaism to the values and conduct of the individual, family, and the society in which we live. We are the only Reform Jewish congregation in Fort Walton Beach and its surrounding communities, but we are sensitive to the needs of members from ALL backgrounds as our membership reflects this diversity. Rituals, ceremonies and worship services are conducted in consonance with the western world and the 21st century, while at the same time retaining the essential traditions of our long and great heritage. Our services are based on a traditional mode of worship and are conducted in English, augmented with ...Read More